Pickled Neighbors

[seadaddler]

Make the Call

When for the first time entering my new to me slip I used my hand to make sure I did not come in contact with the boat next to me,the owner very drunk at the time sleeping below came up from below and said that I hit his boat causing damage.
Of course I denied it and explained that I pushed off making sure to keep either boat from any contact with other people on my boat agreeing with me,he was drunk and we argued until he fell on his boat and went below again.
We always argued after that and not I but some one complained about the loud music at night and him being drunk most times,he accused me and I don't even spend time at the dock at night, so more arguing and a few close calls with fighting,I moved to another slip and no more arguing.
Next time they go out call the police or CG.

 

[Hermit Scott]

I would confront them directly before they went out. I would explain that what they are doing is tearing up your boat and you need them to stop. I would also tie a rope up between your slips if you can and explain that it is to help guide your boats in.
You could call the coast gaurd and they could be stopped and someone might be sober enough to pass, then where are you?
There are 3 sides to every story. Your's, their's and the truth. Not that anyone is lying, but you just can't see everything from one point of view.

A book I read once says that if you have a problem with someone, you go and talk to them first. If that didn't work at that point I would talk to the marina, the coast gaurd and ask the Lord to have mercy on their souls.

 

[Bad Obsession]

Notify the Police about this activity. Do it when they leave the slip and let them wait for them to come back to the marina. This sounds like a serious problem and it is usually a ticking timebomb and when it blows up someone will be hurt or killed. Drunk boating is the same as drunk driving.

 

[BobM]

There is a BYOB bar on our dock that attracted a rowdy crowd of our usual party people the other day (I believe they were attempting to do a line dance popular in the early 90's). I made the normally very reserved launch driver laugh out loud when I commented that they were setting a new Guinness book record for cirrhosis per square foot of dock!

At least they were all on the dock.

 

[Ctskip]

What ever happened to the golden rule? Why are most here so quick to call the authorities? Is that what you would want someone to do if it were you? I know I wouldn't like it. Be straight up and honest.
I'd talk to them before they shove off. Be kind, considerate and understanding, yet firm and to the point. You get more with honey than you do salt. Explain what you have seen and don't be afraid to take some liberties here for the drama effect. Show them and be perfectly clear in your concerns for their welfare and yours. Even to the point to where you have had to talk other people out of calling in the authorities till you at least gave them a chance to correct their drunken behavior. Even fib, and let them know that appreciate their desire and sometimes enjoy a cocktail yourself every now and again. Show them that you are on their side. Start out with a line of conversation that will put them at ease and not on the defense. To open the conversation with them taking a defensive posture will get you nowhere fast. A little dock mate talk is what I suggest. Should that not work, have the marina's people reassign them to another area.

Good luck and keep us updated.

Keep it up,
Ctskip

 

[sailingdog]

I think you need to do several of the steps. First, informing the marina owner of their actions is necessary. This is something that the marina may be found liable for, if they've had it brought to their attention and haven't done anything about the clear danger these people represent to the other boats nearby.

Second, the local LEO, both water and land, should be informed of this. Drunk driving and drunk boating are both illegal and these idiots are clearly putting others at risk with their behavior—especially if they're going from the boat to their cars.

Third, avoid confronting them... if you do get into a physical altercation with these idiots, they're likely the type to file charges and sue you for any injuries—even those that were effectively self-inflicted.

 

[BoatlessAfterKatrina]

I will on occasion have a cocktail or two over the limit while at the dock (I frequently sleep over on the boat) and trying to back in a 12' beam into an 11' slip tends to keep me on the sober side of drunk when I'm out on the water, I would rather have my drunk neighbors talk to me first if they have a problem.

This probably stems from my desire (and I suspect my neighbor's) to have good relations with the boat owners around me. We rely on each other to keep an eye on each others' boats, whether re-tying dock lines/replacing fenders out of position and such, to lending a hand while docking to even keeping a watchful eye out for thieves. I strive to have good relations with those around me.

I also tend to go to the authorities as a last resort. You may think you retain some anonymity doing such, but the fact is that you could wind up correcting their behaviour at the same time finding that every time you go down to your boat little things are missing, a shackle here, a block there, or even a line untied - all with no proof of who is doing it.

Starting out ugly/confrontational could easily escalate to some kind of maritime Hatfield/McCoys situation.

Maybe be at the dock buffing the very part of your boat that is scuffed by their activities at the very time they are returning, offering them a cold beer, and discussing a solution to your scuffing problem (such as a guide-line as described above) while even offering to lend a hand buffing out scuffs on his hull or some such.

Kill 'em with kindness, that's my recommendation - or just move to another slip.

 

[larryw]

Well, that was fun! Ctskip was right, most of you thought the best course was to lay your problem at someone else's door. I'm not sure how effective a "chat with your neighbors" would be tho. Bad Obsession wants to snitch them off behind their back, yet his sig line is black flags and empires. Would Drake, Nelson, or Morgan had a chat, or called the law? Just sayin'...

 

[Tim R.]

I hate crowds and this exact possibility.

My boat is on a mooring and my house is surrounded by nature instead of neighbors. When I go to hell, it will be a mall at Christmas time!

I know, serious avoidance issues. Both me and my wife. It can also be called privacy.

 

[Randy Rohrbeck]

That just flatly isn't true, and as a lifelong powerboater I don't appreciate it either.

The way I took the posters stink boaters comment was that he was referring to just these specific stink boaters, not all stink boaters in general.

Course I could be reading it wrong.

Randy

 

[sailormanbigd]

Peggy and others. I was not refferring that all power boaters are drunkards. Just the two in question. It seems from the original post that this is routine. Always come in drunk. I also use a power boat and the drinks are the same in sail or power. I hope this clears the air. patrick

 

[Maine Sail]

Make a fender board

Take a 4X8 piece of plywood and put about 800 nails through it so it looks like a bed of nails, now, on the smooth side, attach your fenders and install it midship on your boat with the nails facing out. Problem solved. I guarantee he won't hit your boat when he comes back..






Disclaimer: This and my other suggestion of water in the tank are NOT SERIOUS..

 

[Hermit Scott]

Well, that was fun! Ctskip was right, most of you thought the best course was to lay your problem at someone else's door. I'm not sure how effective a "chat with your neighbors" would be tho. Bad Obsession wants to snitch them off behind their back, yet his sig line is black flags and empires. Would Drake, Nelson, or Morgan had a chat, or called the law? Just sayin'...

Bad Obsession likes the romantic thought of pirates, so what! I do to. Everybody gives him a hard time because he's not a criminal but his tag line is about pirates.
The coward in ME says call the cops and run and hide and peek through the port light and see what happens. But it is not the right thing to do. It's one thing to be a coward in the reflex of a moment but when you have time to think about it and you still act the coward, shame on you.
I know you don't want to have to live with this problem but do you want to live with a fued?

 

[kloudie1]

Pretty Funny, MainSail.. Guarenteed solution..
Might cause a feud however, like Scott says..

 

[Maine Sail]

Pretty Funny, MainSail.. Guarenteed solution..
Might cause a feud however, like Scott says..

So call it "ART" and avoid a feud.. "What that? Oh, it's just some art I made for my sculpting class I'm taking.."

 

[Tim R.]

I let my dog do the talking. When we are out sailing with him and a powerboat comes too close, he barks at them. Last week he was swimming when a dinghy came into the beach so he barked at them. They asked what is wrong and I told them he doesn't like it when people land on HIS beach on HIS island.

His vet is also a sailor and when he spots him on they water he whines and yelps. He really loves his vet!

 

[zeehag]

i was given th ecure from a now ded friend--he willed me , while still alive, his fending pole--with a sharpened fending end----but just because he knew me all tooo well, took off the extra sharpened point--dangit---is solid stainless and is excellent at making the varmints disappear---i am in a mooring because of my extreme love of others lol and i need it to fend off intruders and snotties who think moorings in san diego are bumpercar games---they just love to come thru and hit boats indiscrimminately----hence the pointed arrow 10 ft long---lol---i also like th ebed of nails---do what you need to do--do NOT confront the folks---be safe---show cautious passive aggression---bed of nails, pointed fending lance--but make sure ye protect your stuff as it will not be protected by anyone else----make a joke of it if neeed be---positivity is a plus and humor may just make the incidents lessen despite their bad habits....goooood luck...btw--maine sail has a goood outlook on it as far as humor goes....~~~~~~_/)~~~~~~

 

[Ctskip]

I am in a great marina and on the most partying dock you could imagine. It actually takes me longer to walk down the dock on a Friday or Saturday, then to actually drive there. I'm not complaining one bit. I enjoy the hell out of it. Everyone knows everyone. Some of the folks have been there in their slip for 20+ yrs. It's what the office calls party central. Sure drunks come into and out of slips all hours and we all lend a hand. I've even seen drunks fall off the fingers, attempting to assist a boat of partiers in. Thats what I call comradery. We had to fetch the drunk out of the slip before the boat could come into it. Sure it's illegal being drunk, but some of these folks consider this their home and it is for some, but we still have a degree of understanding and compassion. I haven't heard of anyone being seriously hurt nor have I seen the police walk the dock looking for drunks. They patrol the waterway looking for them. And they operate out of the same marina, just on the other side of it. They know what is going on. We all help out one another and thats the way it should be. I would never consider calling the cops to turn in my neighbor because he's doing something that some feel is illegal. People have enough to worry about without wondering who is going to squeal on them next. I call them rats. Even the police don't like and have no respect for informers. So if letting someone else do stand up for you makes you feel good, then just do it. I know what makes me feel good and I do it. I choose to be straight up about everything. Sometimes to a fault.

Keep it up,
Ctskip

 

[BoatlessAfterKatrina]

I am in a great marina and on the most partying dock you could imagine. It actually takes me longer to walk down the dock on a Friday or Saturday, then to actually drive there. I'm not complaining one bit. I enjoy the hell out of it. Everyone knows everyone. Some of the folks have been there in their slip for 20+ yrs. It's what the office calls party central. Sure drunks come into and out of slips all hours and we all lend a hand. I've even seen drunks fall off the fingers, attempting to assist a boat of partiers in. Thats what I call comradery. We had to fetch the drunk out of the slip before the boat could come into it. Sure it's illegal being drunk, but some of these folks consider this their home and it is for some, but we still have a degree of understanding and compassion. I haven't heard of anyone being seriously hurt nor have I seen the police walk the dock looking for drunks. They patrol the waterway looking for them. And they operate out of the same marina, just on the other side of it. They know what is going on. We all help out one another and thats the way it should be. I would never consider calling the cops to turn in my neighbor because he's doing something that some feel is illegal. People have enough to worry about without wondering who is going to squeal on them next. I call them rats. Even the police don't like and have no respect for informers. So if letting someone else do stand up for you makes you feel good, then just do it. I know what makes me feel good and I do it. I choose to be straight up about everything. Sometimes to a fault.

Keep it up,
Ctskip

Yeah, that sounds familiar. I've been in my slip for @ 15 years (give or take a few after Katrina). I think it may be a cultural thing - but I wouldn't have it any other way.

My first response to a 'situation' is usually to offer a cold beer and sit down and chat about boaty stuff - weather, sail settings, compliment their boat etc, and then get around to business, that tends to dispel most suspicions right off the bat (just don't compliment them on how great their wife looks in that swimsuit).

I feel that my boat is too vulnerable out there when I 'm not around to be making enemies at the dock. Plus, you never know when one of those drunks is going to help you out of a jam with a lent tool, elbow grease, a tow - or just a cold beer...

 

[zeehag]

Yeah, that sounds familiar. I've been in my slip for @ 15 years (give or take a few after Katrina). I think it may be a cultural thing - but I wouldn't have it any other way.

My first response to a 'situation' is usually to offer a cold beer and sit down and chat about boaty stuff - weather, sail settings, compliment their boat etc, and then get around to business, that tends to dispel most suspicions right off the bat (just don't compliment them on how great their wife looks in that swimsuit).

I feel that my boat is too vulnerable out there when I 'm not around to be making enemies at the dock. Plus, you never know when one of those drunks is going to help you out of a jam with a lent tool, elbow grease, a tow - or just a cold beer...

smart moves---if that doesnt work, then the tools .....but do pad the boat for safety measure.....